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Certified ESL Tutor and Published Writer for Solving Writing Problems
Ilene S.

16 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Hourly Rate: $35

About Ilene


Bio

Tired of using the textbook to learn English? Good--so am I. That’s why I tailor my lessons to your language needs--not to what comes next in your workbook. So if you're an advanced EFL student who wants to USE your English for job-seeking or to climb the social ladder, I'm the teacher for you!

I'm a native-English speaker from the US, with my CELTA certification earned from Cambridge, England. For five years, I lived in Malta (south of Sicily) where I taught in several language schools, as...

Tired of using the textbook to learn English? Good--so am I. That’s why I tailor my lessons to your language needs--not to what comes next in your workbook. So if you're an advanced EFL student who wants to USE your English for job-seeking or to climb the social ladder, I'm the teacher for you!

I'm a native-English speaker from the US, with my CELTA certification earned from Cambridge, England. For five years, I lived in Malta (south of Sicily) where I taught in several language schools, as well as freelanced as a language tutor. I'm also a published writer (Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, the Boston, Globe, among others) and the author of "The Diary of an American Expatriate" (AUK, London).

I believe in using “authentic material” in my lessons--newspapers and magazines, brochures, movies, and YouTube videos, menus, websites, phone conversations, anything you will hear, read, or see in the real English-speaking world. I am happy to teach English or ESL on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. I am also available to teach online with Wyzant.

My Lessons and Methods Include:

First, I assess all your language skills--not just grammar and reading comprehension--and recommend what we should work on.

Then, l focus on everyday formal and informal English conversation, reading and writing. Over the years, students have told me this is what they want the most. If you want to sound more like a native speaker, I will help you with pronunciation and intonation. The goal is to feel more confident in shops, cafes, supermarkets and on the phone in the English-speaking community.

If you’re uneasy with grammar, I will give you personalized help with specific grammar problems by learning grammar in context--not just from books. I generally don’t believe in grammar exercises from worksheets.

A lot of my work involves coaching students on how to land a job in an English-speaking company or workplace. One of my students joined the UN in Rome as a lawyer. We worked on his American English so he could pass a very rigorous


Education

SUNY Binghamton, Harper College
Sociology
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Masters
Harvard University--Museum Studies--Certification
Other
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $35
  • Rate details: I charge $45 for in-person lessons and $35 for online lessons. If a student doesn't show or is late over 15 minutes, the charge remains.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required
  • Background check passed on 4/29/2014

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

English

English

I can help you “get good” at English--whether you’re a native speaker or an EFL student. Most important of all, I will teach you how to learn. I will be your English guide to teaching yourself what you need to know. I will help you to: stop fearing grammar; read efficiently by learning how to skim and scan material; use a good basic format suitable for most writing assignments; and expand your vocabulary by learning fewer words but using them more. Five years ago, I passed the CELTA course (developed by Cambridge University), one of the most rigorous training methods in the ESL/EFL field. This enables me to teach English anywhere in the world. In fact, I've taught ESL to students from all over the globe when I was based in Malta--an island south of Sicily. I'm experienced in teaching individuals and small groups. Whether I teach EFL to foreign students or English to native speakers, the best part of my lessons is that I don't use boring textbooks. Instead, I use authentic material--newspapers, magazines, street signs, menus, museum brochures, TV and YouTube. I'm also a published writer for national magazines in the US and the author of a book about life as an American expatriate.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

Five years ago, I passed the CELTA course (developed by Cambridge University), one of the most rigorous training methods in the ESL/EFL field. This enables me to teach English anywhere in the world. In fact, I've taught ESL to students from all over the globe when I was based in Malta--an island south of Sicily. I'm experienced in teaching individuals and small groups--both online via SKYPE and in person. The best part of my lessons is that I don't use boring textbooks. The English world of authentic material--newspapers, magazines, street signs, menus, museum brochures, TV and YouTube provide enough material to learn English. I prefer upper-level adult students (18 years plus), but I do make exceptions for highly advanced, motivated younger learners. I'm also a published writer (Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe and Yahoo!) among others). I also write and edit articles on ESL for a well-known Website, based in China. And I'm author of The Diary of an American Expatriate (AUK, London, 2013).
Grammar

Grammar

If anyone knows grammar, it's me. I'm a published writer (Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe and Yahoo!) among others). I also write and edit articles on ESL for a well-known Website, based in China. And I'm author of The Diary of an American Expatriate (AUK, London, 2013). I like to take the fear out of grammar with my students. I don't think that grammar is a separate thing from the other parts of language. I like to teach it in context--during reading and speaking. This is the natural way of learning and improving it.
Proofreading

Proofreading

Everyone--even the most famous writer in the world--needs a proofreader or editor. And this should be a real, experienced person--not merely something like a spell or grammar checker on your PC. As an American journalist and editor for the past 30 years, I will be happy to proofread or edit your writing. I have proofread for Ph.D. students. lawyers, healthcare professionals, job applicants--and even my own daughters when they had to write their college essays.
Reading

Reading

I have worked in the Dover, New Hampshire, school system as a literacy assistant. I helped students improve their reading skills through a variety of methods--from integrating new vocabulary into their lives to creatively guessing the ends of stories. Although it may sound silly, I even used M&M's as a reward one time to help a student learn to read silently, which she finally could master. I am also a published writer for national publications. I am also the author of a book. In order to be a writer, you have to love reading. I have many ways of helping students see reading as a joyful pastime--not merely as a homework assignment to get over with as soon as possible.
Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Despite the fact that I think English has too many words, I can help make a difference in your school, social or career life by teaching you how to expand your vocabulary. This doesn't mean memorizing lists of words. I will teach you a method of USING the words you learn so that you expand your vocabulary naturally. You will have fewer words to learn but will get a lot more out of the words you already have. I'm a CELTA-trained EFL/ESL teacher with teaching experience abroad. I'm also a professional and published writer.
Writing

Writing

I'm a published writer (Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and Yahoo!) among others). I also write and edit articles on ESL for a well-known Website, based in China. And I'm author of The Diary of an American Expatriate (AUK, London, 2013). While I think writing is a talent like music or art, I absolutely believe that people can increase certain writing skills to be able to turn in acceptable work for school or on the job. The best advice I ever got about writing is: "Don't fall in love with your own words." In order to be a good writer, you have to be flexible and allow editing of your work to take place.

Examples of Expertise


Ilene has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Hourly Rate: $35
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